Seven Local Organizations Create South Pasadena Park-to-Park Bike Ride

Activities included an arts and crafts table (Photo – Michael Siegel)

On Saturday March 16th, South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn Zneimer joined Councilmember Janet Braun, Alhambra’s Vice Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez and seven local South Pasadena organizations in celebrating the city’s natural environment in a park-to-park family bike ride, native plant exploration and picnic.

By Michael Siegel

Over 80 children and adults participated in South Pas Active Streets’ family bike ride, a round trip journey between Garfield Park to the Arroyo via Mission. South Pas Active joined forces with South Pasadena Beautiful and the Friends of the South Pasadena Nature Park to create an immersive experience for families at the Arroyo Seco Woodland and Wildlife Park. Activities included a scavenger hunt, preparation of plant cuttings and general education on native species.

“Getting to take my 4-year-old and 6-year-old on a safe bike event in South Pas was amazing,” said Nate Bolt of South Pasadena. “The kids had a blast and loved the scavenger hunt and planting monkeyflowers.”

South Pasadena Mayor Zneimer, and Alhambra Vice-Mayor Pérez had a chance to interact with parents and their children as they explored the Nature Park. South Pasadena Councilmember Braun participated as a jogger for the entire 3.8 mile journey.

Along with the three organizing groups, many other local organizations pitched in to make the event a success. South Pasadena Radio Club acted as emergency communication ride marshals delivering contact among the chaperones in the long train of bikes as they made their way along Mission.

At Garfield Park, Marengo Elementary’s Ta Family generously donated food and drink for the picnic. The Dudes, along with high school students from South Pasadena’s Lion’s Hearts, volunteered to set up and help serve the families attending the picnic. After the children fueled up, they split their time between horsing around on the playground and creating cards at the nature-themed arts and crafts area coordinated by The Hive South Pasadena.

“The energy of the group was infectious, I loved seeing so many people experience the Nature Park and the Arroyo bike path for the first time” said John Aboud, President of the South Pasadena Radio Club. “I hope the ride encouraged everyone who participated, and even some bystanders, to get on their bikes more often. Our two radio volunteers don’t live in South Pasadena, and they both said they now want to visit more often.”

Additional outside organizations supplemented the safety contingent of ride marshalls, including ActiveSGV, the Pasadena Complete Street Coalition, and Alhambra’s Safe Streets for SGV.  At one point, the line of families riding down Mission stretched continuously from Arroyo Drive to Grand Avenue.

“What an amazing day for the children and families of South Pasadena” said Kris Miler, one of the organizers from South Pas Active, “to have so many local groups both in and out of South Pasadena come together in this fashion to give their time and energy for our kids is truly moving. We can accomplish a lot of good for our community when we come together.”

Riding on Mission and kids planting cuttings (Photos – Michael Siegel)

(L-R) CM Janet Braun, VM Sasha Renée Pérez and Mayor Evelyn Zneimer (Photo – Michael Siegel)